Despite mounting pressure to retire early, partners still struggle to forge fulfilling careers outside the legal profession. Friederike Heine reports

“After 27 years in legal practice, I’m finding it difficult to find new opportunities to explore and I miss the camaraderie of the office. My social life, which used to be inextricably linked to my practice, is practically non-existent. For an energetic 54-year-old, the prospect of spending your retirement at home is difficult to imagine.”